Ninety percent of all of the scientists in the world will be in Asia by 2010. And the United States has fallen from third internationally in the number of scientists and mathematicians to 17th.

If that concerns you, a new science and math program being launched in Santa Rosa and Escambia county schools is looking for volunteers.

Gulf Power Company, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition and state Rep. Holly Benson in partnership with the Escambia and Santa Rosa County School districts are launching I LOVE Science (Increasing Local Opportunities for Volunteers Enthusiastic about Science) – a program to provide a one-hour, hands-on science activity each month for all fifth grade classrooms.

The school districts select the science activities to be presented by the I LOVE Science volunteers who will lead the exercise in the classroom. Volunteers will be trained this summer.

"The business world needs more engineers, more scientists and more students who are prepared to enter high-technology fields," said Susan Story, Gulf Power president and CEO. "Sixty percent of the degrees being awarded in Asia are in science and engineering. In the U.S. it’s only 5 percent."

Educators agree that participation in hands-on activities increases students' interest in and knowledge of science. In addition, the volunteers will provide science role models for the students to interact with.

Ken Ford, director of the IHMC, knows the importance of science education. "Science is such an integral part of our everyday life that students often take it for granted," he said.

"But science holds the potential for improving every aspect of our lives – from our health and well-being to our technological advancement as a society."

State representative Holly Benson also sees the importance of giving students a solid base of science education.

"It's critical for our future, for the future of our state and our nation that we produce more students interested in scientific fields," she said. "As a nation we are lagging behind other countries who realize the importance of the advancement of all of the sciences."

To sign up as a volunteer, please contact Nancy Stanley at nstanley@escambia.k12.fl.us or 850-439-2623 for an Escambia County school or Anita Holmes at Holmesa@mail.santarosa.K12.fl.us for a Santa Rosa County school. Volunteers may choose a particular school to work in.